Tarpey Brace Helps Magpies Create A Little Bit Of History

There were questions being asked as to whether prolific marksman Dave Tarpey would be able to continue his fantastic goalscoring record for Maidenhead United at Vanarama National League level.

Last season, Tarpey bagged an amazing 44 goals to help Alan Devonshire`s side to lift the National League South title.

His partnership with Sean Marks in attack was one of the major factors in the Magpies` success.

And they teamed-up superbly at times on Saturday lunchtime as Maidenhead inflicted a 2-1 defeat on a Hartlepool United outfit who, this time last year, were two divisions higher.

Now, after suffering relegation from SkyBet League Two, Pools are finding it tough to come to terms with life outside the Football League for the first time, and have just a single point now from three matches.

Hosting the BT Sport cameras for the very first time, Maidenhead started well and pinned the visitors back for the opening 15 minutes or so without creating too much on a rather hard and tricky surface.

But on 34 minutes, the game sprung to life when a long ball forward was flicked on by Marks into the path of Tarpey, who slid the ball past the on-rushing Scott Loach and into the back of the net.

And Devonshire`s side almost took a 2-0 lead into the break when a deflected Ryan Upward shot was cleared off the line by Blair Adams.

Little was seen of Hartlepool in attack in the opening 45 minutes, but the start of the second period was a totally different matter as a change of formation brought a little more success in terms of possession but not clear-cut chances.

They were pinning the Magpies back though, but moment Louis Lang will not want to watch on catch-up happened on 58 minutes as his under-hit pass across the pitch 25 yards from goal was pounced upon by Tarpey, who took a couple of strides before unleashing a fierce shot in off the underside of the crossbar from just inside the box.

Craig Harrison`s side responded by putting the home side under pressure and they were rewarded 3 minutes from the end of normal time when James Comley slid in two-footed just as Padraig Amond was about to shoot and he dusted himself down before firing the resulting penalty past Lloyd Pentney.

But although 5 minutes of stoppage time came up on the board, Pools were unable to find an equaliser and Maidenhead made a little piece of history with their first win as a National League club.

As for Dave Tarpey, he looks a natural goalscorer who will no doubt trouble all defences this season, given the right service.

About Author

Former Swansea City and Kettering Town defender who has been managing the likes of Kettering Town u18s, Rothwell Town, Desborough Town and Wellingborough Town for 33 years as well as being technical director at AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Began in non-League journalism as editor of Team Talk magazine back in the early 1990s and then as editor of Non-League Daily, joining Pitchero to set up Pitchero Non-League in January 2011. Also works for the National League.